創建
明永曆七年(1653)為當時進佔臺灣南部之荷人所建，最初稱為「普羅民遮城」，與安平的「熱蘭遮城」遙遙相對，互為犄角。熱蘭遮城作為荷蘭總督統治中樞，普羅民遮城則作為行政及商業中心。普羅民遮城之建築為三座略為方形的台座相接而成，每個台座之上皆建有西洋式樓房，城牆以糖水、糯米汁攪拌蚵殼灰作為接合料，以紅磚石為主要建材疊砌而成，堅如磐石，經歷三百多年仍可見厚牆及拱圈遺構。歷經三百多年的赤崁樓，今天的景貌是飛簷紅瓦，樓閣巍峨。在歷史變遷中，曾是荷蘭時代的西式城堡，曾是清朝時代的中式樓閣，曾是日本時代陸軍醫院，迄今的歷史文物館，見證著落日餘暉下的滄海桑田。
民國七十二年(1983)，內政部列為第一級古蹟。
History
In 1653, the 7th year of Emperor Yongli’s reign in the Ming dynasty, Dutch VOC built Fort Provintia in southern Taiwan, across a shallow lagoon (Historically referred to as the Bay of Taijiang) from Fort Zeelandia in Anping. The Dutch made Fort Zeelandia the center of their government power, and Fort Provintia a hub of administrative and commercial activities.Fort Provintia comprises three square-shaped bases joined to one another; upon each of which perches a Western-style structure. The walls are made of red bricks and a mixture of water, sugar, glutinous rice and ground oyster shells as the mortar, for durability that has lasted more than 300 years, as exemplified by the remains of thick walls and arches.A phenomenal structure with upturned eaves and red tiles, Chihkan Tower has proved to be versatile over more than three centuries: it was a Western castle when Taiwan was under Dutch rule, a Chinese-style pagoda in the Qing dynasty, an army hospital during the Japanese period, and currently a museum testifying to the past glory.
In 1983, Chihkan Tower was designated a Class-1 historic site by the Ministry of the Interior.